The Charlottesville 29

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Leah Peeks, Bar and Events Manager of The Whiskey Jar, who is competing in next week’s Craft Cocktail Competition as part of the Tom Tom Founders Festival.  She and eleven other area mixologists will each create a cocktail using at least one local ingredient to be rated by a panel of judges as well as the general public.  The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 17.  Visit the twelve bars entered to try them all, and then vote for your favorites. Meanwhile, Peek’s picks:

1) The Gazossa at The Alley Light.  “I  started working in Charlottesville just so I could make drinks with Micah LeMon. I would drive from Lynchburg, 80 minutes to and from every shift, and it was totally worth it. The Gazossa has been on Micah’s menu since day one, and it’s the perfect cocktail for me: a carbonated, classically proportioned gin martini. Dry, clean, and crisp.”

2) Sausage, Egg, Goat Cheese & Honey and Lattes at The Pie Chest/Milli Joe. “Everything Rachel Pennington makes tastes like butter and love. Her crust is masterful. They keep a selection of savory pies hot and ready, so you can grab a hand pie and a Milli Joe latte and walk down the mall stuffing your happy face.”

3)  Late Night Menu at C&O.  “The bar at C&O is my favorite room in town, plus it’s open late and serves a really yummy menu til 1 most weekdays. Go on a Monday night and get Jen to make you a cocktail and eat tacos, decadent mac n cheese, and creme brulee at midnight, and you’ll feel like you live in a much bigger town.”

4) Tuna Carpaccio Salad at Now & Zen.  “This place is my jam. It’s close to my apartment, I love the staff, and everything I’ve eaten there is delicious.”

5)  Spicy Cucumbers from Ginkgo via Order Up.  “Working long bar shifts can be super draining. Once a week, I like to dedicate a day to not talking to anyone or having to put on pants. Salty, spicy, crunchy cucumbers and rice from Ginkgo are the official food of my inner introvert.”